Time lock board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game for being played competitively between several players, and wherein the object of the game is for a player to find a right key and open a lock before a bell goes off on a timer, the first player to reach a finished first being declared a winner, the game including a game board, 12 penalty cards, a plastic lock and 6 keys of which only one will open the lock, a timer, a singular die and four playing pieces each of a different color.

Q Unite States Patent 1191 1111 Mamas Snyder 1 1 ay 22, 1973 541 TIMELOCK BOARD GAME 2,693,961 11 1954 Ripley ..273 134 c APPARATUS 2,596,2595/1952 Lewis ..273/136 A 2,852,260 9/1958 Caffrey ..273/l34 AD lnvemorlLarry Snyder, 324 Lake Street, 3,025,063 3/1962 Magee ..273/134 c St.Ignace, Mich. 49781 [22] Filed: Sept 7 1971 Primary ExaminerDelbert B.Lowe 1 pp 178,318 57 ABSTRACT A game for being played competitivelybetween [52] Cl 273/134 273/134 273/141 R several players, and whereinthe object of the game is [51] Int; Cl. ..A63f 3/00 for a player to finda right key and open a lock before [58] Fleld of Search ..273/134, 136 abe" goes off on a timer the first player to Ieach a finished first beingdeclared a winner, the game in- [56] References cued eluding a gameboard, 12 penalty cards, a plastic lock UNITED STATES PATENTS and 6 keysof which only one will open the lock, a timer, a smgular d1e and fourplaying pieces each of a 3,100,642 8/1963 Goldstein ..273/l34 ES Xdifferent color.

3,649,021 3/1972 Hayes ..273/l34 G 2,736,134 2/1956 Bennett 273/134 C X1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED W22 I975 sum 2 or 3 l E/V 70/2 6 F5/\/ YDEE PAIENIEW 3734.508

SHEET 3 OF 3 You You Go HR THREE smss T TURNS STAR 3% J J 0U You You LOSE Y L se GIVE V002 ONE w l TW TURNS OPPONENT TURN R w IN FWE GAME 0 Aspaces J K J You LOSE ONE TURN DRA AQ 57 "7 /::P; l I i I I l .::I I I IL| j //v l/E/V TOE 4 z/2y F. .svvrase TIME LOCK BOARD GAME APPARATUSThis invention relates generally to competitive games.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel gamewhich can be played competitively between several players, and whereinthe object of the game is for a player to find a right key for openingup a lock before a bell goes off on a timer, the first player to reach afinished first being declared a winner of the game.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a time lock gamethat is different from any other game now presently upon the market.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a time lockgame that is exciting to the players and which is enjoyable.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a time lockgame which can be played by both adults as well as children.

Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a time lockgame wherein the players may play either individually or inpartnerships, as desired.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a time lock gamewhich is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged inconstruction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the game board of the present invention and apack of penalty cards and playing pieces associated therewith.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a spinner of the device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a layout view of the face of a die that comprises a componentof the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the die.

FIG. 6 is a face view of the 12 penalty cards.

FIG. 7 is a layout view of the six keys.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 10represents a time lock game according to the present invention whereinthere is a game board 11 of approximately 10 inches wide by inches longand upon an upper side 12 thereof there is imprinted a playing field 13that consists of a course 14 that is composed of a row of spaces 15which at one end are adjacent a start 16 and which at the opposite endthereof are adjacent a finish 17. Upon some of the spaces 15 there isimprinted an instruction 18 for informing a player what procedure tofollow if his playing piece lands thereupon. One of the spaces iscolored blue as shown at 19, another of the spaces is colored green asshown at 20, another of the spaces being colored yellow as shown at 21and another being colored red as shown at 22.

A space 23 upon the playing field indicates a place for penalty cards.

Also upon the playing field 13 there is placed a timer 24.

A spinner 25 is also placed upon the playing field 13, the spinnerincluding a circular ring of spaces 26 each one of which is indicatedwith instructions 27 for a player to follow in case the arrow head 28 ofthe indicator needle 29 lands thereupon. The indicator needle 29 isfreely pivotable about a post 30 concentrically located within the ringof spaces.

The indicator needle 29 is normally retained in a locked position bymeans of a plastic lock 31 positioned upon the spinner, the plastic lock31 having a key hole 32.

The present game also includes four playing pieces 33 each one of whichis of a different color so that a player can readily recognize his ownplaying piece among the others. The playing pieces 33 are for thepurpose of moving along the spaces 15 of the course 14, the playingpieces traveling between the start and finish spaces.

A plurality of 12 playing or penalty cards 34 are included in the game,each one of the penalty cards 34 having an instruction 35 imprinted upona front side thereof and which a player must follow when he receives apenalty card.

The present game also includes six keys 36 all of which are of a samecolor but only one of the keys can open the lock 31 because it has theright out teeth for turning the lock bolt. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, thekey indicated by the alphabetical character K and illustrated at theupper right is the correct key for opening the lock 31 because it is cutdifferently than all of the other five keys 36.

Additionally the present game includes a singular die 37 which hasnumerical digits imprinted upon the faces thereof in a manner differentthan a conventional die wherein the numerals on opposite sides of a diealways total to seven; the die in the present invention having numeralswhich upon opposite sides thereof do not total to seven. However thepresent game may be played with a conventional die if desired.

In operative use, to start the game, each player choses a coloredplaying piece and places it in the space marked adjacent the start. Eachplayer rolls the die and the one with the highest number starts first.The players mix the keys up and place them in a pile and set themechanically operated timer 24. The player starting first must try toopen the lock with the right key before the timer bell rings. If he doesopen the lock before the bell rings, he then spins the indicator needleand moves his playing piece the number of spaces indicated by thespinner. If he does not open the lock before the bell rings, he mustdraw one of the penalty cards and do whatever the instructions indicate.After his turn is up, he mixes the keys up again for his opponent andlocks the lock 31 around the indicator needle 29. A player must not putthe right key to the side or mark it in any way or he loses the gameautomatically. Partnership game playing may be played. The rules for thegame are the same for partnership playing except that partners may notplay after each other consecutively but only after an opponent. If apartner lands on a space to go ahead or go back, or if he draws apenalty card, it will only apply to him not to his partner.

Thus there is provided a novel time lock game.

What I now claim is:

1. In a time lock game, the combination of a game board, a plurality offour playing pieces for movement upon said game board, a spinnerassembly upon said game board, a timer and a plurality of playing cardstogether with a die, said spinner assembly comprising a circle of spaceswith instructions upon each space, an indicator needle pivotable about acentral post, a lock placed within a central space of said ring orcircle of spaces, said lock normally holding said indicator needle forpreventing spinning thereof, said lock having a keyhole for opening saidlock, a plurality of six keys of a same color being provided, only oneof said keys having a correct tooth contour for opening said lock, saidgame board having a playing field imprinted upon an upper side thereof,said playing field comprising a course of a row of spaces beginning at astart and ending at a finish, said course having said playing piecesplaced thereupon, said die having numerical digits imprinted inunconventional manner and arrangement, said timer being placed upon saidgamcboard and including a bell for ringing at an end of a pre-determinedperiod of time after said timer is started to measure said period, saidperiod being raced by a length of time for a player to try said keyssuccessively in said lock for locating said correct toothed key and opensaid lock, free said needle, and start to spin the same before said bellrings.

1. In a time lock game, the combination of a game board, a plurality offour playing pieces for movement upon said game board, a spinnerassembly upon said game board, a timer and a plurality of playing cardstogether with a die, said spinner assembly comprising a circle of spaceswith instructions upon each space, an indicator needle pivotable about acentral post, a lock placed within a central space of said ring orcircle of spaces, said lock normally holding said indicator needle forpreventing spinning thereof, said lock having a keyhole for opening saidlock, a plurality of six keys of a same color being provided, only oneof said keys having a correct tooth contour for opening said lock, saidgame board having a playing field imprinted upon an upper side thereof,said playing field comprising a course of a row of spaces beginning at astart and ending at a finish, said course having said playing piecesplaced thereupon, said die having numerical digits imprinted inunconventional manner and arrangement, said timer being placed upon saidgameboard and including a bell for ringing at an end of a pre-determinedperiod of time after said timer is started to measure said period, saidperiod being raced by a length of time for a player to try said keyssuccessively in said lock for locating said correct toothed key and opensaid lock, free said needle, and start to spin the same before said bellrings.